Art approved for Forest Avenue

A mock-up of two sculptures tipped the scales for a public art

installation on the corner of Forest Avenue and South Coast Highway.

“I appreciated the maquette,” said Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman,

who asked the artist to take off 12 inches of the height after

viewing the mock-up.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of planting

“The Wave” by local artist Larry Gill in the planter boxes on the

highly visible corner. The sculpture is two waves, to be installed on

either side of the avenue, low enough at Kinsman’s request not to

peak in the trees.

Gill’s sculpture was chosen from among 13 entries in the Arts

Commission’s “Essence of Laguna” competition.

Bruce Hopping, a former arts commissioner, believes that the

commission is leaning too consistently toward abstract art.

“If you go back millions of years to the cave paintings, they are

figurative,” Hopping said. “If you go to Pompeii, the remains are all

figurative. If we had a disaster in Laguna Beach and those sculptures

survived, what would an archeologist say about its relationship to

Laguna?

Gill’s sinuous sculptures will be created of stainless steel

sheathed in a polished green granite mosaic. The foundation was

designed to accommodate the sites and to conform to earthquake codes.

Funding for the sculpture, installation and dedication was

appropriated Tuesday from the Business Improvement District Fund,

money accumulated from a voluntary 2% increase in the hotel bed taxes

targeted for art. The total cost is $41,000.

Gill’s sculpture was selected by the Arts Commission in April and

recommended to the council in May.

The council was not persuaded at the May meeting to approve the

acquisition, despite an enthusiastic presentation by several arts

commissioners and the presentation of a petition signed by 17 owners

of businesses near the installation site.

Mayor Toni Iseman said the community should have an opportunity to

view a mock-up as proposed by Kinsman.

Poeschl said she had received only a couple of telephone calls

about the installation.

-- Barbara Diamond

Grant received for

South Laguna road work

The Orange County Transportation Authority awarded Laguna Beach a

grant of more than $300,000 Monday that will go toward funding South

Laguna street improvements.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to add $179,000 to the

$318,000 grant to fund the estimated $497,000 project, which includes

installation of pedestrian lighting, street trees, landscaped

medians, artistic bus shelters and benches, neighborhood signage and

other improvements along South Coast Highway. Funds are expected to

be available by January.

South Laguna resident Ann Christoph thanked city staff for moving

the streetscape project ahead so quickly, adding that she hopes the

city will retain the same designers who’ve worked on the project thus

far.

“This is a real coup for the city, staff and citizens,”

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman said. “There are a lot of projects in

Laguna that take a lot longer.”

Kinsman said she first saw seeds of the project four years ago

when she was chairwoman of the Planning Commission, and gave specific

credit to city staff and City Manager Ken Frank for finding the

funds.

Parts of the streetscape project have already been completed,

including the decorative medians between 2nd and 4th streets, but the

grant allows the city to proceed fully starting next year after

proposals for design.

“Congratulations, South Laguna,” Mayor Toni Iseman said after the

vote.

-- Mike Swanson

Baglin thanks

community for support

Wayne Baglin participated in Tuesday’s City Council meeting

knowing for the first time in weeks that it wouldn’t be his last.

In a trial delayed by searches for open courtrooms and available

judges, Baglin was found not guilty of all felony conflict of

interest charges on July 10. On Tuesday, he thanked the community and

his fellow council members, who in turn thanked Baglin for keeping

such a cool head through two years of rumored jail time.

“A lot of the strength I had during the last two years is as a

result of the support of my family and friends,” Baglin said. “I

treasure the friendship I have with each one of you [on the City

Council].”

Councilman Steve Dicterow wanted to make it clear that the City

Council wasn’t the body filing charges against Baglin.

“I’ve heard people asking, ‘Why did the City Council want to

prosecute Wayne?’” Dicterow said. “This was a decision by the

district attorney of Orange County. Had it been in the council, it

wouldn’t have gone where it did.”

Dicterow led off his statements with admiration of Baglin’s

conduct while sitting on the council throughout the two-year ordeal,

which Mayor Toni Iseman and Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman later echoed.

“Your conduct during this process has been beyond exemplary,”

Dicterow said. “Your skills never wavered once.”

-- Mike Swanson

Dinner will aid injured, homeless animals

Laguna Beach-based nonprofit Rescuing Unwanted Furry Friends will

host “Dining Out For Animals” from 5 to 9 p.m. July 22 at Roma

D’Italia Restaurant in Laguna Hills.

A portion of all diners’ bills will go to RUFF, which has provided

support for sick, injured and homeless animals since 1989.

The evening will also include live music from local band the High

Life.

Roma D’Italia is at 25254 East La Paz in Laguna Hills, next to

Elephant Bar.

For reservations, call (949) 581-2780. For more information about

RUFF, call (949) 458-WOOF.

Clinic seeking

funding support

The Laguna Beach Community Clinic is forming its first support

group to assist with all facets of fund-raising for the clinic.

The “Friends of Laguna Beach Community Clinic” will also work to

increase community awareness of the clinic and its programs. Charter

memberships in Friends of the Clinic are still available.

A series of 30-minute open houses has been scheduled at the

clinic, at 362 Third St., to acquaint new members with the clinic and

its programs, and to distribute information about the support group

to prospective members. Open houses will be at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, at

6:30 p.m. Thursday and at 6:30 p.m. July 28.

Attendees to the open houses will learn more about the Laguna

Beach Community Clinic and the Friends of the Clinic.

For more information, call (949) 494-0761, ext. 106.